Just realised I've been paying business rates

wetheppl

Hi,

I hope someone can help me.

I'm moving out of my rented accomodation after 2 years and have phoned up Southern Electric today to get the final bill and to change the name on the account. When I phoned up, I found out that for the past 2 years I've been paying business rates for my electricity instead of residential rates!

Southern Electric were very unhelpful and started passing me from pillar to post with every person I spoke to unable to help. In the end I got frustrated with this and involved the Ombudsman who has now given me a case reference which I've passed onto SE.

Is this the right course of action to follow? Also, does anybody know if there is much of a difference between Business rates and residential rates?

Thanks in advance,

Russ

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

There is no 'standard' business rate - contracts are agreed between supplier and customer. A huge organisation will be able to negotiate a better price than a corner shop.

If you look at one of the comparison sites - enter your postcode - you will be able to get the rates to compare with what you have been paying.

Incidentally VAT on domestic gas/electricity is 5%. I thought I read somewhere that it was 17.5% on business rates(not sure on that though).

whatatwit

Yes, I pay 17.5% VAT on my business gas/electric.

mumoftwins

whatatwit wrote: »

Yes, I pay 17.5% VAT on my business gas/electric.

The same thing happened to me in my rented property! I'm still at war with ScottishPower:mad: